ALONG FOR THE RIDE: A TRIBUTE TO DENNIS HOPPER

Come see the theatrical release of ALONG FOR THE RIDE, the new documentary about Hollywood maverick, Dennis Hopper, accompanied by: BLUE VELVET and TRUE ROMANCE, a pair of classics that feature some of Hopper’s most famous, and perhaps greatest, performances; Michael Almereyda’s short A HERO OF OUR TIME, a rarely screened gem in which Hopper starred during a break in the filming of Blue Velvet; Hopper’s punk masterpiece, OUT OF THE BLUE; and a program of shorts by his longtime friend, collaborator, and influence — artist and experimental filmmaker, BRUCE CONNER. If you don’t fall deeply in love with Hopper throughout this, it is because you were already hooked. Show up early and enjoy a Roxie-produced Hopper-clips show!

ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Friday, Dec 15 – Thursday, Dec 21

Dennis Hopper right-hand man and co-subject of the doc, Satya de la Manitou, director Nick Ebeling, and producer Sheri Timmons, IN PERSON for Q&A after the 7pm show on Friday, 12/15!

“Along for the Ride” explores the highs, lows and ultimately – the phoenix like ascension of iconic Hollywood maverick Dennis Hopper – all as seen through the eyes of his mysterious longtime “right-hand man” – Satya de la Manitou. Filmmaker NICK EBELING chronicles the unlikely duo’s incredible 40+ year journey, an enduring and intense brotherhood, as intimately complex as Hopper’s own legendary career. De la Manitou re-examines his dedication to his friend’s idiosyncratic and uncompromising genius, reminiscing with a fascinating cast of characters – Hopper’s co-conspirators, family and friends – all those that were also – unwittingly or willingly – ALONG FOR THE RIDE. The result…is one hell of a trip. Original Score by Gemma Thompson of Savages. Featuring among others Satya de la Manitou, David Hopper, Wim Wenders, Frank Gehry, David Lynch, Russ Tamblyn, Dean Stockwell, and Damon Albarn. “Along for the Ride” also features rare and unseen photos and vintage film.

David Lynch‘s strange, surreal work has always been known more for its visuals than its dialogue, but the director’s most quotable character is certainly Hopper’s Frank Booth in “Blue Velvet.” Part of the credit goes to Lynch for creating such an insane, indelible villain, but Frank is all Hopper. The actor infamously said, “I’ve got to play Frank. Because I am Frank!” to get the part, and he brings a frightening authenticity to one of the most disturbing characters in all of cinema, a man who would send Freddy, Jason, and Jigsaw a-running. His character’s dialogue might have sounded silly coming from any other actor, but from his opening line (“Shut up! It’s ‘Daddy,’ you shithead! Where’s my bourbon? Can’t you fucking remember anything?”), Frank is an undeniably evil, infinitely watchable character. (Indiewire) (David Lynch, 1986, 120min, 35mm)

ALONG FOR THE RIDE (7pm) will be followed by BLUE VELVET (9:30pm). See either for $12 or both for $15. Tickets available here.

The indisputable highlight of Tony Scott’s romantic crime thriller is Hopper’s grandstanding tête à tête with Christopher Walken, now generally referred to as ‘the Sicilian scene’. Walken oozes menace as mob boss Don Vincenzo Coccotti, on the hunt for a stash of drugs inadvertently stolen by comic bookstore clerk Clarence (Christian Slater). Hopper plays Clarence’s estranged father Clifford, whom Coccotti tracks down and terrorises. But rather than run the risk of being tortured to the point where he might give up his son’s location, Clifford makes an audacious bid to provoke Coccotti into murdering him, by calling into question the purity of his racial heritage. Screenwriter Quentin Tarantino has called the scene one of his proudest achievements. (BFI) ((Tony Scott, 1993, 120min, 35mm)

ALONG FOR THE RIDE (7pm) will be followed by TRUE ROMANCE (9:00pm). See either for $12 or both for $15. Tickets available here.

A HERO OF OUR TIME (35mm)

Sunday, Dec 17, 6pm

Plays after ALONG FOR THE RIDE as a bonus! Loosely based on a section of Mikhail Lermontov’s classic Russian novel of the same title, the film involves a displaced cowboy (played by Kevin Jarre, the screenwriter of Rambo), a sociopathic record producer (Dennis Hopper) and, caught between them, a gum-chewing valley girl who would rather be somewhere else (Natalie Zimmerman). Lermontov’s 19th century novel leaves a vapor trail on the action, but A Hero of Our Time is more precisely a portrait of contemporary Los Angeles, a tale of wayward heroism played out against a landscape of yearning and desolation. Dennis Hopper’s participation occurred during a break in the filming of Blue Velvet. (BAMPFA) (Michael Almereyda, 1985, 28min, 35mm)

ALONG FOR THE RIDE (+ HERO OF OUR TIME) (6pm) will be followed by OUT OF THE BLUE (8:30pm). See either for $12 or both for $15. Tickets available here.

“Subvert normality… Destroy… Kill all hippies.” Unlikely star and bantamweight teen tough cookie Linda Manz stars as Cebe, a punkette whose disastrous home life only gets more complicated when her ex-truck driver dad (Hopper, also returning to the director’s chair with swagger) gets sprung out of the can and comes home, dragging repressed memories back with him. A clear and profound influence on nearly all “everyone knows this is nowhere” indie films of the decade to follow, but still unrivaled as a cinematic kick in the teeth. (Metrograph) (Dennis Hopper, 1980, 93min, 35mm)

ALONG FOR THE RIDE (+ HERO OF OUR TIME) (6pm) will be followed by OUT OF THE BLUE (8:30pm). See either for $12 or both for $15. Tickets available here.

Dennis Hopper called Bruce Conner “the most important artist of the 20th century.” Conner and Hopper were longtime friends and collaborators. This program includes landmarks of American experimental cinema such as A MOVIE, a film Hopper has said of it was an inspiration for editing Easy Rider, and BREAKAWAY. Hopper held the lights while Conner filmed Toni Basil dancing in this 1966 dance/film masterpiece. (Bruce Conner, 66min, DCP and 16mm)

Saturday, February 24

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The Roxie Theater is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization supported in part by Grants for the Arts, the Northern California Community Loan Foundation, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Thendara Foundation, the Voluntary Arts Contribution Fund, and our members and donors.